Orchard-ladder



(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1;

H. BOWMAN.

ORGHARD LADDER. v

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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' (No Model.) ZSheets-Sheet2. H. BOWMAN.

ORCHARD LADDER. No. 581,329.

- Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

I INVENTDRE WITNESSES:

rrnn STATES ArnNr FFICE.

HARVEY BOlVMAN, OF FORGY, OHIO.

ORCHARD-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,329, dated April27, 1897.

Application filed August 27, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY BOWMAN,a citizen of the United States,residing at Forgy, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Orchard-Ladders; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in step laddersespecially designed for fruit-gathering or orchard use.

The invention is a further improvement of the ladder shown and describedin my pending application for United States Letters Patent, filed July13, 1896, Serial No. 598,914.

The object of the invention is to provide a step-ladder for fruitgrowers that may be knocked down and set up without detachin g screws,bolts, or other parts from the main part of the ladder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 designate, respectively,rear and side elevations of my improved orchard or step ladder. Fig. 3is a detached enlarged side elevation of one of the side inclinedbraces. Parts are broken away to utilize space. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsection on the line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one ofthe socket-castings in which the lower end of one of the inclined bracesis secured when the ladder is set up. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view ofone of the clamp-plates to which the handles are secured. Fig. 7 is asimilar view of one of the outer clamping plates. Fig. 8 is an enlargedsectional view on line mm, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 shows two views of one of thehandle-clamping bolts. Fig. 10 is a detached view of one of theclamp-bolts attachable to the inclined posts of the ladder. Fig. 11 is adetached'side view of the socket-plate shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is adetached view of one of the bearing-plates attachable to the lower endsof the upright posts of the ladder. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of theupper part of the ladder, the legs being broken away. Fig. 14 is a viewof the inner side of one of the upright posts. Fig. 15 is a view of thelower Serial No. 604,059. (No model.)

side of the upper shelf. Fig. 16 is adetached view of thesupporting-bars for said shelf.

Several features of the ladder are practically the same as shown anddescribed in my former applicationfor example, the shelf 16 and themanner of attaching it, the easters or wheels 6, axle 5, and thestep-brackets 12. Therefore they will only be mentioned incidentally indescribing the parts embodying the invention, which are as follows:

1 designatesinclined braces that reach from the front posts 2 to therear part of the handle-bars 4 is a hinge-plate having an integral boltthat projects through the posts 2 and is made rigid to said posts bynuts 5. There is one of these plates secured to the inner side of eachof said posts and their attachment is rigid and permanent.

6 designates a hin ge-bracket rigidly and permanently bolted to theupper ends of the braces 1 and having a permanent pivotal connectionwith plates 4.

7 designates a similar bracket rigidly and permanently attached to thelower end of each of the braces 1 and having a shank or prolongedportion 8, which terminates in a flange 9 at the bottom, two sides ofwhich are tapering, as shown in Fig. 3.

10 is a socket-plate, of which there is one attached to the upper sideof each of the handles and each of which has a slot 11, into which thesquare end 9 may be slid sidewise and the shank 8 thereof locked ineither of the slots 12. In making this connection between the inclinedbraces 1 and the handles 3 it is necessary to slightly spring saidbraces to bring the parts 9 into a position to enter the slots 11, andwhen said parts 9 are moved back into said slots until they come in linewith the slots or notches 12 they spring back again into their formerposition and become locked against any accidental displacement. Theupper ends of the inclined braces are permanently hinged, and only theirlower ends have to be detached from the handles in order to collapse orknock down the ladder. The handles are attached to the upright posts 17of the ladder by bolts which are secured by wrench-nuts 1S, and saidhandles 3 are frictionally secured to the posts 2 as follows:

19 designates a plate having a dovetail slot 20 and an integral bolt 21,that projects through an opening in the posts 2 and is secured by a nut22, that fits against a plate 23, that lies against the inside of theposts 2.

24 is a bolt having an elongated head 25, conforming to the shape of theslot 20 and adapted to fit therein and be frictionally locked therein bymeans of a wrench-nut 26 to hold the handles rigidly against the posts2. The said'bolts penetrate openings in the handles and plates 27 and28, that are attached to both sides of said handles, as shown in Fig. 8.

In order to detach the handles from the inclined posts and permit oftheir being carried up parallel with the upright posts 17 of the ladder,it is only necessary to release the elongated heads from frictionalcontact with the plates 19 by turning wrench-nuts 2 6.

It will be noted that the parts which have to be disconnected for thepurpose of folding the ladder or placing it in a knocked-down conditiondo not require the detaching of any of the bolts, screws, (KYO-Therefore there are no small parts to become lost or misplaced when theladder is to be set up.

30 designates a casting or socket, of which there is one attached to thelower end of each of the upright posts 17, and in which the axle 5 isjournaled. These boxes differ in construction from those shown in mypending application, hereinbefore referred to, by having their outersides inclosed by a wall of metal 32, which serves to prevent the endsof the posts from working or shifting out of a proper position. Theupper shelf 14: is permanently attached to the posts 17 by hinges 13,and may be swung down to a vertical position or supported in ahorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, by a bar 15, which is pivotedbetween cars 15, projecting from aplate 15". The latter plate isattached to the lower side of the shelf, as shown in Fig. 15.

The lower end of the supporting-bar 15 is inclosed between a staple 15,secured to the inner side of one of the posts 17, and the said bar isadapted to engage with the lower horizontal part of the staple by meansof a slot 15 The lower end of said bar 15 also has a projecting portion15, that extends down on the inside of the staple and prevents said barfrom becoming accidentally disconnected from the staple.

In Fig. 1, 33 designates a rope or chain one end of which may beattached to one of the posts 17 and the other end provided with a snapor hook. \Vhen the ladder is folded or knocked down, this rope may becarried around it and secured by the snap to hold the ladder in itssmallest compass.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a portable orchardstep-ladder, the combination with posts 2 and 17, and handlebars 3, ofinclined braces 1 having a hinge connection with the posts 2, the lowerends of said braces being adapted to slide in and out of a lockingengagement with said handlebars,ashelf lahinged to the posts 17 ,anotched bar pivoted to said shelf, and a staple 15 secured to one of theposts 17 with which the notched end of said bar may engage to supportthe shelf in a horizontal position, as herein shown and described.

2. In a portable orchard step-ladder, the combination with the posts 2and 17, and the handle-bars 3, of inclined braces 1 hinged to the posts2, brackets 7 on the lowerends of said braces 1, said bracketsterminating at their lower ends in flanges, and slotted plates 10attached to the handle-bars with which the flanged ends of said brackets7 may be slid in and out of a locking engagement, as herein shown anddescribed.

3. In a portable orchard step-ladder, the combination with posts 2 and17, and handlebars 3, of inclined braces 1 having hingebrackets 6inclosing their upper ends, hingeplates 4 attached to the inner sides ofthe posts 2 and to which said brackets 6 are 0011- nected, brackets 7attached to the lower ends of said braces l and terminating at theirlower ends in flanges, slotted plates attached to the handle-bars withwhich said flange ends are adapted to engage by moving the inclinedbraces laterally, a plate 19 having a dovetail slot 20 attached to posts2, and a friction-bolt 24 attached to each of the handlebars, hav ing anelongated head adapted to dovetail in the slot 20, and means forreleasing or increasing the friction between said elongated head, andthe plate 19, as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY BOWMAN.

\Vitn esses:

R. J. McOAnTv, L. L. ALLEN.

